Aside from winning the Super Bowl championship, the most immediate task the San Francisco 49ers have to complete is to sign wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to a contract extension.
He is entering the final year of his current contract, and as their leader in receptions and receiving yards last season, he is someone they cannot afford to lose any time soon.
Insider Matt Barrows said, per 95.7 The Game, that the team’s negotiations with Aiyuk have been “difficult.”
A number of star wideouts across the NFL have recently gotten large extensions, and that has seemingly raised the price for San Francisco to keep Aiyuk.
He has shown steady improvement during his four seasons in the league, and in 2023, he put up 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns while firmly establishing himself as their top threat in their passing game.
The 49ers will soon have to also give out an extension to quarterback Brock Purdy, and some feel both potential extensions will force them to eventually trade wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
On the other hand, there is a feeling they have already made plans to soften the blow that would result if they traded either Samuel or Aiyuk.
They drafted Ricky Pearsall, a wideout from the University of Florida, in the first round of April’s draft, and Barrows noted that he has done well during offseason workouts.
The Aiyuk trade rumors have somewhat died down since the draft, and the team has increased its salary cap space a bit after giving star running back Christian McCaffrey an extension this week, so perhaps both sides will eventually come to an agreement on an extension.
